Columnists

The surprising disintegration of Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign has opened up the race for the 2016 Republican nomination, benefitting the other candidate from Florida, Senator Marco Rubio. This is a bizarre political development because Rubio is running as the second coming of George W. Bush. -more-

Use a cane? Never! Perish forbid. Everyone will think you’re old! But a cane can really help, and not just for walking. The American Association for the Advancement of Science reports the use of canes and other mobility devices is on the rise among older adults. There may be a relationship between your hearing loss and a balance problem. The “assistive cane” is a walking stick used as a mobility aid for better balance. The white cane is a walking stick for mobility or safety of the blind and visually impaired. Hand rails on both sides of every corridor everywhere for everybody! -more-

If someone beyond age thirty with a schizophrenic or bipolar illness has an episode of mania or psychosis, there is a significant possibility that they will not survive this. An episode of severe psychosis is a huge stress on the body. When someone is approaching or beyond forty years old, a psychotic episode could trigger a heart attack. When an older person is put in "four-point" restraints by hospital staff (usually because of being difficult to control) this can also trigger a cardiac episode. -more-